Fred

Throughout my 47 years of ministry, I’ve had sincere people ask why I think church membership is important. An article about church membership posted on the 9Marks website spoke of this. Allow me to modify the article giving you three reasons why I believe joining a church is vital.

1. My personal obedience requires it. The NT pattern is believe, baptize and belong. Throughout Paul’s letters he drops hints about friends relocating and bearing letters of recommendation to new churches, Ac 18:27; Rom 16:1-2; 2 Cor 3:1. Foreign in the NT is for a believer not to be identified with a local church. 

2. My spiritual survival depends on it. Membership places one under the authority of the church. It provides biblical accountability that is vital for each and every believer. Again, Paul speaks of the non-protection the sinning brother would experience upon church discipline, 1 Cor 5. So on the positive side, the implication is there is a measure of spiritual protection when believers place themselves under the church’s authority.

3. My purpose in the Christian life is fulfilled by it. The NT uses metaphors to describe church-life: building stones and body parts. Both teach the Christian life isn’t meant to be lived in isolation. As believers we were not made for a life of individuality but to be part of the spiritual building called the local church. Each body part is vital (ever try to function without an arm!) – each stone in a building is important for its structural integrity. 

So where do you call home Christian friend? Are you a member?

I’ll never forget – and will forever appreciate a comment a man made many years ago in another ministry. He was a deacon – a godly senior saint. Leadership was discussing the pros and cons of changing pulpit translations. Some argued against that change – they liked the translation they had been born and bred on. Switching gears threatened comfort zones and security. Then this deacon said, “If we want to minister to this congregation only – then I don’t see any reason to change. However, if we want to reach the lost, if we want to impact the next generation for Christ then we must change.” May his tribe increase.

Wilf Burrell’s comments are true in a number of scenarios. It is easy to get comfortable at church – this is the music I like or this is the bulletin format I’m used to reading, this is where I sit, etc. But church isn’t about us – it’s about our commission to make and to mature disciples for Christ. Yes, if we want to maintain status quo – then why introduce change at all? Just keep things the same.

There are scores of churches that do just that – and guess what? They’re dying. Thom Rainer’s research states 56% of USA churches are declining; 9% have plateaued and 35% of churches are growing. Change is hard but it is essential for growth demands it. To change for the sake of change is novelty. But to change to be better equipped to meet current and future needs is essential. Changes we’ve introduced here have always been rooted in our passion for God, his glory and the mission he gave us to fulfill. And that dear friends will never change.   

I can still remember my dear mother telling me that it takes more muscles to frown than to smile. Christians don’t always have to be happy. Circumstances in life can produce unhappiness – yet we are called to constantly rejoice in the goodness and greatness of our God. Joy is based on my relationship with Jesus Christ. “Rejoice in the Lord always.” We who know Christ have experienced times of sadness. There’s nothing sinful about expressing our grief in appropriate ways. Yet we also can testify that God fills our hearts with inexhaustible joy at the same time!  

However, with that understood smiles are still important. 

Wise Solomon said laughter was like good medicine. Mom would quote a silly poem when I would pout. Many years have passed since those boyhood days. My mother has been with the Lord for 28 years but I still remember that poem. 

A smile is quite a funny thing,

It wrinkles up your face.

And when it’s gone you never find

It’s secret hiding place.

But far more wonderful it is to see

What smiles can do;

You smile at one – he smiles at you,

And one smile makes two!

See, you’re smiling.  It does work :)   

Happy Mother’s Day!

Only if America would turn back to God, then will he bless us. My question is – “Back to when? To our founding fathers? I don’t think so. Men like Washington, Jefferson and Franklin were deists. They believed in a supreme being but were not evangelical. Our nation was founded on a Judeo-Christian ethic, but not the gospel. At the time of the Revolutionary War the average church attendance was lower than it is today. We’ve always been a secular nation –    always will be.

But what about 2 Chron 7:14? John Piper responds, “’My people’ is Israel and ‘their land’ is Israel … The church has no land. There is no promise here for a nation being spiritually healed if the church in that nation repents.” Our kingdom isn’t of this world. Our home is heaven. We’re aliens and citizens of another kingdom. Yes, we’re citizens also of America. Let’s use our rights to promote morality and decency. But political maneuvering and getting the right people elected isn’t the answer. When we claim 2 Chron 7:14 as a promise to the USA, we’re doing exactly what the prosperity gospel preachers do – distorting the intent of Scripture.

Please don’t misunderstand. I’m patriotic. I fly the flag on national holidays. Kevin DeYoung writes when we make our patriotism synonymous though with our faith we’ve committed patriotic idolatry. Our first allegiance is to Christ. I remind you, when he comes, there will be no democracy for he will be King. 1 Tim 2 calls us to pray for our national leaders. This isn’t a selfish request – to live a comfortable middle-class life free from stress. No, the motivation behind the request is that within an ordered society the gospel is free to spread easily. So instead of criticizing government I am driven to pray for it.

Paul David Tripp writes, “If you ask the little boy why he hit his sister, he won’t tell you it was because of the sin that’s in his heart. No, he’ll say, ‘She was bothering me.’ If you ask the teenager why he came in so late, he won’t willingly take responsibility. He’ll tell you a long story … If you ask the father why he is so angry all the time, he won’t tell you it’s because of the selfishness and impatience in his heart. No, he’ll say it’s because of his kids; they just drive him crazy. If you ask the single person why she’s so moody and discontent, she won’t say it’s because of the jealousy that resides in her heart. She’ll point to all the ways that life has been hard. If you ask the old man why he’s so mean, he won’t tell you it’s because of the bitterness that has captured his heart … Sometimes I think it’s the one biblical truth that no one believes.

When we do something wrong, we all tend to point outside ourselves for the cause: ‘this traffic makes me so angry; she gets me so upset,’ or ‘my boss pulls the worst out of me.’  [Such] is a street-level heresy. It feels good to think that your biggest problems in life exist outside you and not inside you. Jesus devastated [this] self-atoning perspective on human behavior … Sin is the matter of the heart before it is ever an issue of our behavior … So I must confess that I am my greatest problem … I am in desperate need of grace that is alone able to rescue me from me … This is exactly what David prayed in Psalm 51 that God would create a clean heart in him. God’s grace is grace for the heart, and that is very good news.” – New Morning Mercies

For centuries Christianity has held various opinions on the subject of war. Modern wars must not be confused with the wars fought by Israel in the OT. Today there is no nation acting as God’s representative. OT Israel was unique receiving special revelation. NT believers are never told to advance God’s kingdom by bloodshed.

Historically a minority of Christians have held to what’s been called “classic pacifism” – believing that sometimes war is necessary but Christians shouldn’t be engaged in it. That’s not what today’s pacificism teaches. Many peace marchers of today don’t believe in the depravity of humanity. These naively hold to the idea that we are inherently good. If we strive hard enough, we can achieve world peace. That isn’t what the Bible teaches at all. Now don’t misunderstand. We applaud all humanitarian efforts to end senseless killing. But as Christians we must accept the reality of evil in this fallen world.

Augustine’s City of God, he taught war could only be just: if declared by a legitimate government; if the war was to protect innocent life; national defense; not be waged unless the evils fought were grave enough to justify the taking of life; that the war would end more evil than it would cause; and that all peaceful alternatives had been exhausted. You and I will have to wrestle with whether or not current wars fit into this category. Regardless we must be respectful with those with whom we might disagree. We must always pray for our national leaders, be responsible and respectful to authority and remember our greatest war is spiritual, not physical.

Special thanks to those who attended or helped with our counseling conference. Attendance was 150+ – larger than I ever anticipated with around 30 churches participating. Recently I read an article why church members are trending to go to therapy instead of the church with their problems. The article was written by Laura Kleinshmidt from Westminster Seminary. I’ve adapted her article.

It’s challenging to care for congregants when one doesn’t know their struggles. We are two-part beings: body and soul. It’s often been said, if your body has a problem see a physician; if you have a spiritual issue, see your pastor but if you have a psychological problem talk to a therapist. We here at HBC disagree. Scripture doesn’t identify psychological problems divorced from our bodies and spirits. What society calls psychological can be reassigned to either body or soul. We live our lives under God’s authority. When we separate people into three parts and label only one of those as spiritual, the other two parts may seem outside of God’s authority. With the three-part model it is hard for people to see God’s authority as over the body and even more challenging to convince them he is over the so-called psychological. Our secular therapeutic culture communicates a godless alternative. 

What dominates our culture tends to seep into the church. Christians tend to think issues like anxiety or relationship struggles are not related to their spiritual lives – and that is a huge mistake. The psalmist asked, “Where does my help come?” Culture answers, “My help comes from Google, social media, my support group or my therapist.” And yet Scripture reminds us God is our Refuge and Strong Tower. 

Happy Easter! Probably more appropriate is the early church’s greeting on this day. The worship leader would say, “Christ the Lord is risen!” and the congregation would respond, “He is risen indeed! This tradition continues – be ready!

The Barna Group explored Americans’ definition of Easter. Most consider it a religious holiday (celebration of God, a holy day, special church service), but fewer identified it with the actual resurrection of Jesus. In fact, only 2% said it would be the most important holiday of their faith. Of the respondents, 13% said they were not sure how to describe Easter. Other descriptions included: getting family together, spring break, a symbol of new beginnings or a time to dye and hide eggs.

Let it be said loud and clear that Easter is the most important Christian holiday! It is on this day that we celebrate the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. The body of Jesus of Nazareth cannot be found in some Palestinian tomb – it was gloriously transformed some 2000 years ago.  Jesus urged his disciples to touch him – dispensing the idea that his resurrection was purely spiritual. In fact, Jesus ate with the disciples after his crucifixion in his resurrected state. It was a real body – different yes, but nonetheless physical and real. 

Several of our kids will be with us today. We’ll enjoy each other’s company. We have planned a big family dinner – but all these activities exist because Jesus Christ rose from the dead. That is why we’re together – that is why we     celebrate. He is risen indeed!

I have been a collector of quotes. Here are some old ones   I had on a page in my Franklin Planner from years ago. Some are anonymous – others I’ve given credit where  credit is due.

With every job … “work through the problems and seize the opportunities.”  – Colin Powell

“There is no ideal place to serve God, except the place where he has set you down.”  – Alistair Begg

“Life is not the dreams that we have, but the choices that we make.” – Joe Stowell

“We ponder God’s withholding or bestowing and while we pine for what was never given, or what was taken, TODAY slips through our fingers.”

“Patience is the will to wait on God without frustration, irritation or anger.”

“Lord, I renounce my desire for human praise; the need for public recognition. I deliberately put these aside today – content to hear you whisper, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’”

“Self-pity deceives us into thinking we’re heroic when we’re full of pride.”

“I am a nobody, trying to tell everybody, about somebody who can change anybody.”  – Thabiti Anyabwile

One of the holiest of celebrations for Christians occurs in 2 weeks. Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus. It is also a time where unbelievers are more open to come to church. We want to take advantage of that cultural tendency. Please use the enclosed card to invite someone to breakfast April 5 and to our Easter service. It’s really quite simple: a neighbor, a friend, a co-worker, a family member. Remember, we’re not trying to pull people from another Bible-teaching church. Our focus is on believers who don’t attend church or those who haven’t yet professed faith in Christ.

Statistics reveal more people come to church by personal invitation than any other method. Everyone has a circle of people who need Christ. You can be a strategic part of helping them come to the Lord. Andrew, Peter’s brother, was responsible for introducing the apostle to Christ. Please use this card. Don’t throw it away. Just say, “I’d like to invite you to be my guest at church on Easter – breakfast and our service.” 

Please sign up to bring a dish for the breakfast. For those of us who call HBC home, remember that Sunday our auditorium will be filled with guests – you and I are the hosts. Greet folks. Smile. You take the role of speaking first. Someone who recently visited our service told me HBC was the friendliest church he had encountered in ages. Thank you. So, let us continue to demonstrate that motto we’ve used here before – “You Belong Here.”